What did you make of the new President's inaugural address?
It was quite low key. It put me in mind of Dean Martin. When he was performing in Las Vegas, he reached a great loud , belting crescendo in a ballad and suddenly stopped midway...paused....looked around....and asked
"Hey, what am I shouting for? .....I got the job !"
I thought the most noticeable parts of Obama's speech were his near-lack of the pronoun "I" and that he didn't shy away from placing blame on our current economic problems; he blamed all of us, clearly stating that we put ourselves in this position and we need to get ourselves out of it. It was certainly not the usual "Rah! Rah!" address we have come to expect at inaugurations.
'As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals...
...Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.'
Yes,NNN,it was entertaining to listen for the ways in which he'd say "The last administration was all ideology and no sense and betrayed us in the very traditions and principles it claimed loudly to be upholding", without using the word 'traitors', and all the while couching this in diplomatic language.
Another dig was this "[we] will restore science to its rightful place". Shorthand, perhaps, for an observation that Christianity spent 1,000 years refusing to admit science, accepting only the writings and doctrines of holy men, and this administration, under its Christian leader, had revived that tradition.
This was the part that stood out for me: "- - . To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. "
Absolutely, Frank. I didn't get to see the ceremony this morning, and am watching the highlights now. But my 10 year old daughter came home from school so excited today, because the class got to watch the inauguration. The quote you just gave, was the same one she was so impressed with. But I think it resonated with a lot of people. What a wonderful day for America.
It's great to hear words once again from an American president whose intelligence and wisdom shine through the rhetoric. Americans should be proud that they can again raise their heads in the international community because of quality of leadership rather than because of military hardware.
I only hope he has the strength to face up to not only the economic and military challenges ahead, but most of all to the treasonous undermining by those of his own people who through jealousy, doctrinaire economic or religious theory, or racism, will try to pull him down. I do believe he has the courage for it. But he'll need a lot of luck, too.
Posts: 6961 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
Originally posted by FredPuli: The best thing in the inauguration was Aretha Franklin singing 'God Save the Queen'
Makes sense to me, after all the hub-a-loo building up to yesterday it seemed more like a Coronation than an Inauguration ceremony
Agreed. There was as much Christian religion in it as in ours. Odd for a secular country, where, supposedly, you don't allow any religious symbol in a public building and are broadly against teaching religion in schools.
We have the reason that our monarch is Head of the Church of England.It follows today that he or she is crowned in Westminster Abbey.It is also traditional. William I was crowned in the Abbey, on Christmas Day, 1066.
Fred, in my opinion the “separation of church and state” is hypocritical here. Politicians only use a God when it suits them.
Just about every school in America that was able televised the inauguration and had their students watch the inauguration live while in school yesterday. I think that was great and future generations of young Americans watched history in the making and hopefully felt inspired in some way.
I am surprised that no one (that I know of) has yet filed a formal complaint that their children were forced to watch several references to God while in school.
DG, President Obama in not a “black” president; he is ½ white after all.
I guess I am different than many people as the thought of the president’s skin color never really concerned me at all. I understand the significance of President Obama’s election but whenever I look at a person skin color is the furthest thing from my mind.
I will stand behind and respect and support our (Americans of course) president and hope he delivers the change that was promised during his campaign and that he mentioned in his inauguration speech.
Not looking good on the “change” front so far, 25+ hours and so far everything seems the same.
Get to work Mr. President
Posts: 4125 | Location: Long Island, New York USA | Registered: 06-03-02
'Barack Obama, the US president, has issued his first executive orders amid a flurry of activity from the new US administration on the Middle East, Guantanamo Bay and the economy.'Obama sets agenda on first day
Not looking good on the “change” front so far, 25+ hours and so far everything seems the same.
I think you missed it, Koz. The real big, necessary, and overdue change has already taken place. Millions of young, disintrested, cynical, and minority voters have suddenly found new hope, inspiration, and shared interests. I think we have become a more unified people and believe that we really can govern ourselves, that love is a far stronger force than bigotry and selfishness, a powerful antidote to the poison of divisiveness. As a young Canadian serving in the segregated U.S Army, where black soldiers were moved into separate cars when we got to the Mason-Dixon line, where I saw drinking fountains marked for white or colored use I never expected that I would live to see the day when we lived up to our promise of liberty and justice for ALL. I think we just may have reached that point. I think I see a glimmer of light. I am almost confident that those who would blow out that candle are shrinking in numbers beyond recovery.
Frank sez: "I think you missed it, Koz." When four young people, Andrew Goodman, James Cheney, Michael Schwerner ,and Medgar Evers were murdered back in the '60's, and the terrorists who perpetrated those atrocities escaped justice, I never thought I'd see the day when blacks would have the vote pretty well all over the U.S.!
We are very lucky.
Posts: 6961 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
Originally posted by frankvan: I think you missed it, Koz.
I didn’t miss a thing Frank, it is my sarcastic humor (or lack thereof sometimes ) when I say things like “ where’s my change ”.
I was born in the early 60’s in a very diverse place. My father was / is a racist. He used to make racist comments all the time. My brother became just like dear old dad but I didn’t. I admit that until I was about 10 I did kind of listen and believe the racist garbage because it was my dad and I didn’t know any better.
Once I knew better I would call my father out on his idiotic racist statements as I had many friends of many ethnic backgrounds. That caused a lot of stress, arguments, and beatings. I stood my ground and often got the crap kicked out of me for it.
I can’t and won’t say what my father said to me as he beat me with his belt but many a time it was extremely racist. The beatings stopped when I was 15 years old. He went to hit me with his belt and I grabbed it away from him and put him against a wall. The beatings stopped and so did all communication for about two years.
I joined the Marines and went through basic in the “deep south”. (Parris Island) I was barely 18 years old and immersed into a world of racism until that time I thought was only in the old movies. (Off base for the most part)
I lived in the south while not deployed for the next dozen or so years. I made a lot of friends of all ethnic backgrounds then; the best one who still is the second most important person in my life happens to have much darker skin that I do. We are very, very close.
Over the years my parents and I relationship warmed somewhat, but I made it clear that I won’t tolerate any racist garbage. My mother has learned to be more tolerant, but my brother and father were / are still blatant racists.
My parents hosted a barbeque a while ago. (I am guessing about 6-8 years ago) I was coming in the backyard and my friend was coming down the front walkway and I heard my brother say a very racist comment to my father and laughing about it.
I became enraged and lost my temper and there was a physical altercation between my brother and me. I easily won the physical battle and am still winning the mental battle. I have not spoken to or acknowledged my brother’s existence since that day. My real brother is my friend who just happens to be darker skinned that I am, not that piece of garbage that came out of the same woman as I did .
Not acknowledging my flesh brother is awkward (for my mother) sometimes at Thanksgiving or Christmas family get-togethers as I get along fine with my brother’s two sons. I don’t like one of them but we get along fine.
I see by “flesh” brother most every working day as we work in a family business, but I won’t even look at him no less speak to him. It makes for some interesting crap here but I can’t forgive what he said. I am not ready to accept an insincere apology.
Oh by the way, he is a flaming Liberal Left Wing Democrat idiot (not all of them are idiots , but he certainly is) that has been floating on cloud 9 because “his boy” is now president. This infuriates me, (most particularly the way he emphasizes the word “boy” when referring to President Obama) but I keep it bottled up.
I have literally dozens of stories of my experiences as a Northern white Yankee living and visiting in the Deep South but I am done for now.
Yea, I missed something all right
Posts: 4125 | Location: Long Island, New York USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Originally posted by frankvan: I think you missed it, Koz.
I didn’t miss a thing Frank, it is my sarcastic humor (or lack thereof sometimes ) when I say things like “ where’s my change ”.
I was born in the early 60’s in a very diverse place. My father was / is a racist. He used to make racist comments all the time. My brother became just like dear old dad but I didn’t. I admit that until I was about 10 I did kind of listen and believe the racist garbage because it was my dad and I didn’t know any better.
Once I knew better I would call my father out on his idiotic racist statements as I had many friends of many ethnic backgrounds. That caused a lot of stress, arguments, and beatings. I stood my ground and often got the crap kicked out of me for it.
I can’t and won’t say what my father said to me as he beat me with his belt but many a time it was extremely racist. The beatings stopped when I was 15 years old. He went to hit me with his belt and I grabbed it away from him and put him against a wall. The beatings stopped and so did all communication for about two years.
I joined the Marines and went through basic in the “Deep South”. (Parris Island) I was barely 18 years old and immersed into a world of racism until that time I thought was only in the old movies. (Off base for the most part)
I lived in the south while not deployed for the next dozen or so years. I made a lot of friends of all ethnic backgrounds then; the best one who still is the second most important person in my life happens to have much darker skin that I do. We are very, very close.
Over the years my parents and I relationship warmed somewhat, but I made it clear that I won’t tolerate any racist garbage. My mother has learned to be more tolerant, but my brother and father were / are still blatant racists.
My parents hosted a barbeque a while ago. (I am guessing about 6-8 years ago) I was coming in the backyard and my friend was coming down the front walkway and I heard my brother say a very racist comment to my father and laughing about it.
I became enraged and lost my temper and there was a physical altercation between my brother and me. I easily won the physical battle and am still winning the mental battle. I have not spoken to or acknowledged my brother’s existence since that day. My real brother is my friend who just happens to be darker skinned that I am, not that piece of garbage that came out of the same woman as I did .
Not acknowledging my flesh brother is awkward (for my mother) sometimes at Thanksgiving or Christmas family get-togethers as I get along fine with my brother’s two sons. I don’t like one of them but we get along fine.
I see my “flesh” brother most every working day as we work in a family business, but I won’t even look at him no less speak to him. It makes for some interesting crap here but I can’t forgive what he said. I am not ready to accept an insincere apology.
Oh by the way, he is a flaming Liberal Left Wing Democrat idiot (not all of them are idiots , but he certainly is) that has been floating on cloud 9 because “his boy” is now president. This infuriates me, (most particularly the way he emphasizes the word “boy” when referring to President Obama) but I keep it bottled up.
I have literally dozens of stories of my experiences as a Northern white Yankee living and visiting in the Deep South but I am done for now.
Yea, I missed something all right
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Koz,
Posts: 4125 | Location: Long Island, New York USA | Registered: 06-03-02
